The Oratory Prep Baseball season has just started and the boys were defeated in their opening game at home 8-3 by the Cranford Cougars. The Rams next needed to go to New Providence and have a second straight meeting with a Watchung Division team.
Caden Breault started for the Rams as he was phenomenal throughout. The offense got a jump start right away with a Logan Costello double and Joe Loiacono reaching on an error. Blake Duddy then immediately came through with a 2 out double that scored both Costello and Loiacono to create a 2-0 cushion. The Pioneers were then able to cut that lead in half in the bottom side of the inning off a bloop single. Breault then proceeded to limit the damage with a strikeout in the next at bat. The Rams and Pioneers had a pitching duel throughout, both teams leaving several runners on base and failing to cash in some crucial runs in several frames. It was not until the 5th innings the Rams were able to add to their lead. With Joe Loiacono on base, Blake Duddy was able to scratch another RBI into his resume to complement his 3 hit day. The very next at bat for the Rams, Caden Breault showed that he could do the job from both sides of diamond as he drove in George Fagan with a double. Breault would go onto pitch into the seventh inning going 6 2/3 innings pitched, striking out 8, and only allowing one run. Peter Van Raamsdonk would coming into the game to pitch the final out, in which he ultimately earned the save after 4 pitches. The Rams were able to hold onto a 4-2 win that would improve their record to 1-1.
After a win against New Providence, the Rams were not able to hold onto a 5-3 lead Saturday that led to a Mountain Lakes 7-5 win. The Rams would open up their Mountain Division quest with a game against Arther L Johnson at home. This game would also go onto be a pitchers duel as junior ace Thomas Albanito took the mound for the Rams. As both sides struggles offensively, both pitchers were dueling to keep both of their sides scoreless. The Rams struck first with a Blake Duddy single drove in Loiacono to open up the scoring. The Crusaders responded in the next inning with a an RBI double that scored on a fielding error. Albanito and the Rams were able to get out of the fourth notched at one a piece. Duddy was not done with his damage as another RBI single drove in Devon Mulvaney for a 2-1 lead. Albanito would go one more inning as he finished the day with 6 innings pitched, 0 earned runs, and 5 k’s. Caden Breault came in for the seventh to earn a save and a win for the Rams. Coach Costello’s “Get Back to Even” mentality truly payed off for the Rams as the boys are now 2-2, traveling to Elizabeth for their next matchup.
